Republican Sen. Mark Kirk Endorses Same-Sex Marriage

"Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back--government has no place in the middle," Kirk says.

Republican Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois just released a statement endorsing same-sex marriage, making him only the second Republican senator (after Rob Portman) to do so. 

"When I climbed the Capitol steps in January, I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others," Kirk's statement begings. "Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage. Our time on this earth is limited, I know that better than most. Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back--government has no place in the middle." 

Re "Our time on this earth is limited, I know that better than most": Kirk suffered a stroke in Jan. 2012.